LT. GOVERNOR WYMAN RECOGNIZES IMPORTANCE OF AEROSPACE

INDUSTRY TO STATE'S ECONOMY

Congress Declares September 11-17 National Aerospace Week

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman today said Congress' declaration of this week as National Aerospace Week is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of Connecticut's nearly 250 aerospace companies to the state's economy and manufacturing base.

"Connecticut is a place where the aerospace and defense industry has thrived for many decades, and today we need these jobs and this technology more than ever," Wyman said. "That is why Gov. Malloy and I will do everything we can to help this industry and its highly-skilled workforce remain a foundation of our economy for generations to come."

Connecticut currently has about 40,000 workers in the industry, which last year contributed more than $6 billion to the state's gross domestic product. Nationally, the industry employs more than 800,000 workers and supports more than two million middle class jobs and 30,000 suppliers in all 50 states, according to the Aerospace States Association (ASA).

"Our nation is facing tremendous economic pressure," said Alaska Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell, Chair of ASA. "National Aerospace Week is an opportunity to reinforce the value of this important industry across our nation."

ASA has launched support for the Real World Design Challenge - an annual competition that provides high school students the opportunity to work on real-world engineering challenges in a team environment - and Build-a-Plane, a non-profit organization that partners with the Federal Aviation Administration and other organizations to provide schools with donated aircraft and aircraft kits for their students' hands-on practice in the building or restoration of a real aircraft.

For more on National Aerospace Week and these organizations, visit www.NationalAerospaceWeek.org.